Describe how a technique has been used in the Great Gatsby. Explain how this technique is used to convey an idea.
Technique: Symbolism Idea: Things aren’t what they seem
THE GREAT GATSBY
Symbolism is used frequently in The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Symbolism is used in many ways such as the Greenlight, Colour white and Water. These three symbols are used in a way to portray something that it’s not. F Scott Fitzgerald uses Symbolism to create an illusion. The green light represents hope. Gatsby uses hope to get through the 1920s and achieve his dreams. The Colour white representing purity and innocence and lastly, water representing the rebirth of Gatsby’s past and his new persona.
The green light sits at the end of Daisy’s dock and Gatsby reaches out towards it because it gives him hope he can get Daisy back. The green light gives Gatsby that sense of hope and represents his dream life with Daisy. Although, in reality, the green light is so far out of reach and is often hidden. It’s so far away and hidden because it highlights ‘false’ and unreachable Gatsby’s dreams are. “He stretched his arms out across the dark water in a curious way and as far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily, I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing….” Those last to words ‘distinguished nothing’ represents that fact that the green light isn’t really there and is false. The green light seems close because it’s just across the bay but in reality, the green light was “Close as the stars to the moon”. Meaning the Greenlight was a wee while away and Gatsby is only dreaming and it isn’t realistic.
Daisy’s most worn colour is white. F. Scott Fitgerald has chosen the colour white because it portrays purity, innocence and the upper class. Throughout the novel, Daisy is seen wearing the colour white many times. She is seen as an innocent and pure young woman. Once you get into Daisy’s life you realise how far her life is from her reputation. F. Scott Fitzgerald has created this illusion about Daisy having the best life. Jordon tells us that “…white girlhood was passed together there. Our beautiful white”. This explains that Daisy is an asset to other peoples lives. She is seen as ‘our beautiful white’ girl. Daisy is seen as ‘Our Beautiful White’ meaning she is almost talked about as an object and people own her.
The water symbolises the past of Gatsby and Daisy and how much time they lost together. Gatsby believes that he can get back the time he lost with Daisy. An illusion is created because Gatsby thinks he can get back the 5 years he lost and believes this and won’t let anybody tell him otherwise. At the end of the book, Nick says “…so we beat on, boats against the current, borne ceaselessly into the past.” Unfortunately for Gatsby, he is going against the ‘current’ and all odds are against him. Daisy is in a relationship with Tom Buchanan and cant actually leave him because Daisy doesn’t want to leave that lavish lifestyle and all of the privileges.
The symbols F. Scott Fitzgerald uses for the effect of creating an illusion are very well portrayed in the novel ‘The Great Gatsby”. The symbols, Greenlight, Colour white, and water are used in a special way by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Recent Comments